Press Release

QNB Corp. Reports Earnings for First Quarter 2020

Apr 28, 2020

QUAKERTOWN, Pa., April 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — QNB Corp. (the “Company” or “QNB”) (OTC Bulletin Board: QNBC), the parent company of QNB Bank, reported net income for the first quarter of 2020 of $220,000, or $0.06 per share on a diluted basis, compared to net income of $3,379,000, or $0.97 per share on a diluted basis, for the same period in 2019.

The reduction in net income and earnings per share, when comparing the two periods, is primarily due to a non-cash charge to non-interest income, a result of the decline in fair value of the equity securities portfolio held at by QNB Corp, our bank holding company. The following table presents disaggregated net income:

3 months ended

3/31/2020

3/31/2019

variance

QNB Bank

2,316,000

2,676,000

(360,000)

QNB Corp

(2,096,000)

703,000

(2,799,000)

Consolidated net income

$ 220,000

$ 3,379,000

$ (3,159,000)

Total assets as of March 31, 2020 were $1,232,010,000 compared with $1,225,023,000 at December 31, 2019. Loans receivable at March 31, 2020 were $821,283,000 compared with $820,616,000 at December 31, 2019, an increase of $667,000, or 0.10%. Total deposits at March 31, 2020 were $1,043,521,000, increasing $5,661,000, or 0.50%, compared with $1,037,860,000 at December 31, 2019.

“Our core banking business performed well during the first quarter 2020. Loan growth slowed, but the deposit and household growth we saw in 2019 was sustained during first quarter 2020,” stated David W. Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “While asset quality remains strong, we recorded additional loan loss provision, due to the decline in economic activity resulting from the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 totaled $9,163,000, an increase of $327,000 from the same period in 2019. The net interest margin was 3.18% for the first quarter of 2020 and 2019. The yield on earning assets was 3.92% for the first quarter 2020, a decrease of 12 basis points from 4.04% in the first quarter of 2019. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 14 basis points to 0.92% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared with 1.06% for the same period in 2019.

Asset Quality, Provision for Loan Loss and Allowance for Loan Loss

QNB recorded a $500,000 provision for loan losses in the first quarter of 2020 compared with $225,000 in the first quarter 2019. QNB’s allowance for loan losses of $10,334,000 represents 1.26% of loans receivable at March 31, 2020 compared to $9,887,000, or 1.20% of loans receivable at December 31, 2019, and $9,015,000, or 1.12% of loans receivable at March 31, 2019. Net loan charge-offs were $53,000 for the first quarter of 2020, or 0.03% annualized of total average loans, compared with of $44,000, or 0.02% for the first quarter of 2019.

Total non-performing loans, which represent loans on non-accrual status, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest and restructured loans were $15,861,000, or 1.93% of loans receivable at March 31, 2020, compared with $16,464,000, or 2.01% of loans receivable at December 31, 2019, and $9,753,000, or 1.21% of loans receivable at March 31, 2019. In cases where there is a collateral shortfall on impaired loans, specific impairment reserves have been established based on updated collateral values even if the borrower continues to pay in accordance with the terms of the agreement. At March 31, 2020, $4,172,000, or approximately 37% of the loans classified as non-accrual are current or past due less than 30 days. At March 31, 2020, commercial substandard or doubtful loans totaled $15,173,000, a decrease of $749,000 from the $15,922,000 reported at December 31, 2019 and an increase of $452,000, from the $14,721,000 reported at March 31, 2019.

Non-Interest Income

Total non-interest loss was ($1,571,000) for the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of $3,880,000 compared with the same period in 2019, due primarily to a decrease in the fair value of the equity securities portfolio, when comparing the two periods. The equities portfolio comprises blue-chip large-capitalized stocks, providing a taxable equivalent dividend yield of 3.26%. The performance of the portfolio during the first quarter of 2020 is commensurate with the overall performance of the U.S. stock market. The unrealized loss in the portfolio was $2,940,000 at March 31, 2020, compared with an unrealized gain of $976,000 at March 31, 2019. The estimated cumulative contribution (realized and unrealized net gains, plus dividends) of the equities portfolio to earnings per share from January 1, 2008 through March 31, 2020 is $1.10 per share.

Excluding the change in fair value of equities, net interest income increased $36,000, or 2.7% when comparing the two periods. Increases in non-interest income comprise; fees for services to customers, ATM and debit card income, and net gain on sale of loans, which increased $18,000, $18,000, and $60,000, respectively, in first quarter 2020 compared with the same period in 2019.

Retail brokerage and advisory income and net gain on sale of securities decreased $28,000 and $6,000, respectively, when comparing the two periods. Other fee income decreases include $12,000 recorded for the broker-dealer conversion cost reimbursement, $12,000 in check sales to depositors and $9,000 in mortgage servicing fees.

Non-Interest Expense

Total non-interest expense was $7,278,000 for the first quarter of 2020, increasing $554,000, or 8.2% from $6,724,000 for the same period in 2019. Salaries and benefits expense increased $291,000, or 7.7%, to $4,072,000 when comparing the two quarters. Salary expense and related payroll taxes increased $305,000, or 9.8%, to $3,431,000 during the first quarter 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Medical premiums and post-retirement life insurance benefit expense decreased $26,000 and $26,000, respectively, while retirement plan expense increased $34,000 during the same period. Net occupancy and furniture and equipment expense increased $136,000, or 12.8%, to $1,198,000 for the first quarter 2020, due primarily to increased depreciation of building and equipment of $69,000 and increased premises and equipment leasing expense totaling $46,000, when compared to first quarter 2019, as QNB’s newest Allentown location was not opened until third quarter and the Upper Perkiomen Branch had not yet relocated until fourth quarter 2019. Other non-interest expense increased $127,000, or 6.8%, when comparing first quarter 2020 with first quarter 2019, due to an increase in marketing expense and bank share taxes of $85,000 and $72,000.

Income tax benefit was $406,000 in the first quarter 2020, compared to a provision of $817,000 in the first quarter 2019 due to decreased pre-tax income.

About the Company

QNB Corp. is the holding company for QNB Bank, which is headquartered in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. QNB Bank currently operates twelve branches in Bucks, Montgomery and Lehigh Counties and offers commercial and retail banking services in the communities it serves. More information about QNB Corp. and QNB Bank is available at www.qnbbank.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors. Such factors include the possibility that increased demand or prices for the Company’s financial services and products may not occur, changing economic and competitive conditions, technological developments, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including “Item lA. Risk Factors,” set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

QNB Corp.

Consolidated Selected Financial Data (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

Balance Sheet (Period End)

3/31/20

12/31/19

9/30/19

6/30/19

3/31/19

Assets

$

1,232,010

$

1,225,023

$

1,245,863

$

1,212,005

$

1,203,126

Cash and cash equivalents

46,489

17,608

20,787

14,068

13,708

Investment securities

Available-for-sale

327,325

349,710

361,157

347,728

344,367

Equities

9,417

9,164

5,850

6,898

10,482

Loans held-for-sale

216

977

240

Loans receivable

821,283

820,616

830,556

817,593

804,528

Allowance for loan losses

(10,334)

(9,887)

(9,494)

(9,164)

(9,015)

Net loans

810,949

810,729

821,062

808,429

795,513

Deposits

1,043,521

1,037,860

1,048,189

1,030,661

1,034,614

Demand, non-interest bearing

146,143

146,270

150,944

149,591

139,970

Interest-bearing demand,
money market and savings

682,303

656,014

661,414

646,759

671,925

Time

215,075

235,576

235,831

234,311

222,719

Short-term borrowings

43,265

55,931

69,945

59,048

49,897

Long-term borrowings

10,000

Shareholders’ equity

124,613

120,717

118,985

115,878

110,360

Asset Quality Data (Period End)

Non-accrual loans

$

11,134

$

11,704

$

12,445

$

7,668

$

7,706

Loans past due 90 days or
more and still accruing

Restructured loans

4,727

4,760

1,643

2,009

2,047

Non-performing loans

15,861

16,464

14,088

9,677

9,753

Non-performing assets

$

15,861

$

16,464

$

14,088

$

9,677

$

9,753

Allowance for loan losses

$

10,334

$

9,887

$

9,494

$

9,164

$

9,015

Non-performing loans /
Loans excluding held-for-sale

1.93

%

2.01

%

1.70

%

1.18

%

1.21

%

Non-performing assets / Assets

1.29

%

1.34

%

1.13

%

0.80

%

0.81

%

Allowance for loan losses /
Loans excluding held-for-sale

1.26

%

1.20

%

1.14

%

1.12

%

1.12

%

QNB Corp.

Consolidated Selected Financial Data (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Three months ended,

For the period:

3/31/20

12/31/19

9/30/19

6/30/19

3/31/19

Interest income

$

11,331

$

11,600

$

11,817

$

11,712

$

11,289

Interest expense

2,168

2,435

2,635

2,601

2,453

Net interest income

9,163

9,165

9,182

9,111

8,836

Provision for loan losses

500

375

550

150

225

Net interest income after provision
for loan losses

8,663

8,790

8,632

8,961

8,611

Non-interest income:

Fees for services to customers

411

444

432

422

393

ATM and debit card

488

548

533

519

470

Retail brokerage and advisory income

113

141

145

133

141

Net gain on investment securities
available-for-sale

192

973

584

6

Unrealized (loss)/gain on available for
sale equity securities

(2,940)

504

(305)

(405)

976

Net gain on sale of loans

81

83

63

28

21

Other

276

298

303

373

302

Total non-interest income

(1,571)

2,210

2,144

1,654

2,309

Non-interest expense:

Salaries and employee benefits

4,072

4,452

4,063

3,790

3,781

Net occupancy and furniture and equipment

1,198

1,254

1,123

1,097

1,062

Other

2,008

1,926

1,769

1,906

1,881

Total non-interest expense

7,278

7,632

6,955

6,793

6,724

Income before income taxes

(186)

3,368

3,821

3,822

4,196

Provision for income taxes

(406)

623

731

679

817

Net income

$

220

$

2,745

$

3,090

$

3,143

$

3,379

Share and Per Share Data:

Net income – basic

$

0.06

$

0.78

$

0.88

$

0.90

$

0.97

Net income – diluted

$

0.06

$

0.78

$

0.88

$

0.90

$

0.97

Book value

$

35.29

$

34.30

$

33.92

$

33.09

$

31.59

Cash dividends

$

0.34

$

0.33

$

0.33

$

0.33

$

0.33

Average common shares outstanding – basic

3,522,667

3,509,766

3,501,771

3,494,620

3,486,786

Average common shares outstanding – diluted

3,525,455

3,515,830

3,507,317

3,502,111

3,494,429

Selected Ratios:

Return on average assets

0.07

%

88.00

%

1.00

%

1.05

%

1.15

%

Return on average shareholders’ equity

0.73

%

9.06

%

10.39

%

10.91

%

12.09

%

Net interest margin (tax equivalent)

3.18

%

3.11

%

3.14

%

3.20

%

3.18

%

Efficiency ratio (tax equivalent)

93.70

%

66.01

%

60.34

%

61.97

%

59.28

%

Average shareholders’ equity to total average
assets

9.96

%

9.75

%

9.63

%

9.61

%

9.54

%

Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)

$

53

$

(18)

$

220

$

1

$

44

Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) – annualized /

Average loans excluding held-for-sale

0.03

%

-0.01

%

0.11

%

0.00

%

0.02

%

Balance Sheet (Average)

Assets

$

1,221,487

$

1,232,071

$

1,225,776

$

1,202,406

$

1,187,374

Investment securities (AFS, equities)

347,072

360,403

359,549

357,836

360,640

Loans receivable

821,695

827,103

822,738

805,538

789,737

Deposits

1,037,594

1,046,835

1,044,094

1,021,925

1,008,060

Shareholders’ equity

121,684

120,158

117,984

115,551

113,304

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qnb-corp-reports-earnings-for-first-quarter-2020-301048753.html

SOURCE QNB Corp.